Homework Browning-style

Hello friends....here is a glimpse, a very brief glimpse, of the world of homework in the Browning household. Holley dutifully came in and sat down to start her homework. Actually, Scott did too, that's his backpack sprawled all over the table. He finished in 5 minutes and then was off to finish folding his laundry and clean his room. I grabbed the camera and pretended to take pictures of something else and then snapped a pic in Holley's direction. Thankfully the kiddies don't have too much homework...especially on Mon. when Holley is at the gym until 830pm.

Allie can't stand it if big sister ignores her so she starts bugging...and bugging...and bugging her

Then she notices I'm taking pictures...

Holley starting to lose it..she can't ignore the laughing for long (mostly coming from me...not to mention having a camera pointed at her)

So then we left her alone to finish up...

yeah...Macie comes home, surprised to see a camera aimed at her when she walks in..(you'd think she'd be getting used to it by now...hmmm. (point of interest...Scott (in the background) actually folding his laundry like I asked him too, wow!! Of course he's watching TV after I told him no TV. Oh well....He got busted red-handed.

Macie saying Geeeeezzz Mom!!! Do you have to take my picture in my athletics uniform and hair messed up???

So that's it....Stay tuned for Scott's version of "cleaning" his room...I worked today and will work again tomorrow. Please pray for peace and calm on the unit with healthy babies and mamas....and healthy nurses too. One of my friends, a fellow nurse, is going to have to have a triple bypass!!! Please pray for Barbara and her family. Thanks. S

Monday Memories....

Hello all, today was a pretty fun day as far as Mondays go. Allie had preschool and the big kids had school too of course. After Allie's school, she and I played out in the backyard. She gave me a long dissertation about Christmas. It was so cute!! Then she had fun jumping off of the swing. Watching her swing made me realize what a big girl she is now. She no longer needs me to push her. It occurred to me that I will never again have a little one needing me to push them (until I have grand kids at least and that better be a LONG way off). It was a bittersweet moment. But I did not wallow long in it...it is so exciting to see the new things she can do. These years are flying by!!!

Allie swinging...about to jump...
Jumping....weeeee!!! (yes I know it's blurry)
A "graceful" landing! Hee-Hee!!
Once the big kids got home the usual shenanigans start...

These two really can get along (sometimes) but not today....Holley not letting Allie in...typical...

Allie tries to convince me EVERY day that she is so big now and doesn't need naps anymore. Most days she does not take one anymore. Today was one of the days that she just wasn't tired "at all" (her words). No sooner had we gotten in the car to take Holley to the gym for practice at 415 when I saw this in the rear view mirror.

Took this picture of Allie who said "Aww mom, I'm not tired AT ALL!" on my cell phone

It was funny. I was driving down the street that goes between my kids two schools. I was trying to get a picture with my phone but being the incredibly safe driver (Ha) that I am, I realized that I could not turn around to take it. I was looking in the rear-view mirror to see if she was in the middle of the screen while I held the camera backwards to take the picture. As I'm coming up to the middle school I notice a new sign that reads 'No hand-held phone use during school hours'. There is a city ordinance that does not allow you to talk on your cell phones (unless it's hands-free) in school zones during school hours. Do you think taking pictures counts? Technically, I wasn't talking. When I passed the school, camera hanging in my hand over the back seat, I smiled sweetly at the police officer who was directing traffic. Woops..guess I won't do that again....



My sweet, precious Al-gal!! How I love this sweet girl!! God knew I needed her.

Stay tuned to see homework Browning Style.....

Parade day...ohhh the drama!!

Hello all, today was parade day in Boerne, Tx. The first Saturday of December is always the day for the Weinachts (have no idea what this German word means) Christmas parade. Boerne (pronounced Bernie) is a small little community with German roots. The parade is always a night parade and each year the children have been in it. This was the first year that most of the kiddies were NOT in it. Holley was the only one this year participating . I'm sorry to disappoint everyone but it was sooo dark that I did not get any good pictures or videos. I've posted what I did take but the quality is very poor.

This is the second year that we have had major drama surrounding this parade. Last year ALL of the kiddies participated. The other three rode on the church's float and Holley tumbled with the gym team. We waited and waited to see her. Their float last year was one of the last ones in the lineup. Finally we could see them coming...yeah...and what did we find???? Holley was no where to be seen!!! She was not riding on the float or tumbling on the street. So where was she??? I started to panic....where was my child??? Then a second later I see her walking up the sidewalk with the gym's owner, Lorna. Apparently Holley HAD to go to the restroom. She could not hold it so Lorna had to take her. ..Big bummer. All that waiting and she did not even get to make it down to where we were. We typically wait near the end of the parade route so that I can slip out easily to pick them up.

What would this year be without drama? I woke the kiddies up early this morning....packed their Christmas clothes in Holley's gym bag, an outfit for each of them, and made sure Holley had everything ready to go by the time her dad picked all of them up this morning. She apparently had taken several things out of the bag but I was not aware of this. At 535 (the parade starts at 6pm) I get a call from her dad saying she only had 1 shoe and could I please run home to get the other one. What?!?!?!?!? They had called the house first and Poppy went hunting for the shoe and found it. Anyway...after some unfortunate yelling at her Dad for not informing me earlier (they knew the shoe was not there around 515) I called my dad (Poppy) and he agreed to meet me and bring the shoe. Now picture this....we live in a small town, pop 6500, ALMOST EVERYTHING shuts down for the parade including most of the streets, So Poppy brought the shoe in, and I was off to try to get somewhere near the staging area. By this time it's 550. They are going to start the parade soon...OMG!!! Holley was still on her way (nope, she was not there by 515 when she was supposed to be). I manage to turn down main street all the while on the phone with her dad getting updates on their location. He manages to drop her off and get her to the gym float (with 1 shoe) by 555 pm. meanwhile I'm stuck in a horrendous line of cars trying to get down main street closer to the staging area. Her dad comes walking down main street towards my location. He kept saying he was near Subway and finally I was close enough to see the restaurant. I was on the phone with him and saying here I am, here I am...but I was in Meme's car and he didn't recognize me....I started screaming in his ear on the phone and threw the shoe towards him out the window....he drops it and I have to slam on my brakes so I don't run over him or the shoe. Thankully I was not hit since we were all travelling at a snails pace anyway.. Luckily, he ran the shoe back up the street to Holley just in time for the parade to start. Luckily they were not first because it was 610 by this time. Now I had to get all the way back across town through the maze of street closures and find another parking spot (next to impossible) and make it back to my chair before she comes by. I finally made it back about 2 or 3 minutes before the gym float came by. They were near the front of the lineup this year, glad we sat at the end of the route again or I would have missed her completely AGAIN this year. One word to the wise my Holley dear when you read this...that will NOT happen again. Next time if you forget something you will sit and watch with the rest of us. I ran in to the other kiddies sitting with their Dad' girlfriend and Allie somehow managed to not get changed into her Christmas outfit. That frustrates me to no end...I was and AM furious so I didn't take any group pictures....next year they'll go with me (even if it's not my weekend) so I can make sure they are dressed and on time....I was so looking forward to tonight...now I just am glad it's OVER!!!

This is Holley after the parade....hot and sweaty from tumbling for several miles.

This is a very dark video of Holley and team passing by my spot on the route. Holley was on the far side of the street from me and in the first row. She has a very long sandy-blond ponytail.

I had Holley try a couple of things after the parade but she was so tired she did not want to.

This was one of the first groups I saw by the time I got back after the shoe odyssey. It was a float of boy scouts followed by a band from San Antonio. They decorated their instruments and themselves but unfortunately you can only see their little lights and hear them play.

So there it is, it is what it is...lousy pictures from a lousy time. I think Holley ended up having fun, and the other kids were having fun at the parade, but for me, not so much. My mom wanted to go home as soon as Holley was done so I got to see like 5 minutes total of the parade. Hopefully the summer parade for Burgesfest will be better. But wait, there is always drama with that too. Last year the gym did not participate but the year before that Holley was not feeling well but wanted to go and ended up sitting on the float instead of tumbling and started throwing up over the side of the float travelling down main street. Can't wait to see wait drama will happen next year. At least it is during the day so we will get to see her, throw up and all. hee-hee. I work tomorrow, and Tues and Wed. and then we head to Dallas Friday for the state gymnastics meet next Saturday....Scott's birthday is next Sunday!!! My baby boy will be 9!!! Stay tuned...this grumpy mama is going to BED!!!

We are still here....

I survived this workweek. Yeah!!! Actually, I was put "on call" yesterday (Thurs) and did not have to go in until mid-afternoon so it was nice to get a little rest. We switched over to a completely new computer charting system in our Labor and Delivery unit. The first day "live" was on Tues. and it has been complete and utter chaos. Most of us are paper charting everything and then putting it on the computer. So it's double charting but by Thurs afternoon I had figured some of it (like 25%) out. They keep telling us that we will love it when we get used to it...we'll see. I feel like I finally figured out the first system (since May) and now they get a whole new one. Actualy they had to change. We were like the last hospital still using the old system and it goes off line totally on Dec31, 2008. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute.Ugh...I hate that! The parade is tomorrow. Will post pictures... work Sun...Went shopping today with Meme and Allie and we had lunch at Red Robin..Yum...Stay tuned...

Over the river and through the woods to Aunt Perry's house we go...

A new tradition that we (my family) started in 2004, is going over to my sister Perry's house to decorate her Christmas tree. When we were little girls, we used to go over to a family friend's house each year to help her (and her grandchildren) decorate her tree. The woman's name was Hazel. I can remember it like it was yesterday. Hazel was a friend of my grandmother's (I think). She would have a big party each year and we were always invited. The grownups would eat, drink and be merry while the kids would also eat but more importantly decorate her tree. It was a lot of fun. She always gave us little gifts at the end of the evening and we looked forward to going every year.
Perry decided to start having us over (she is very brave) in 2004. Allie was just over a year old, and we've done it each year since. This year is really the first time that ALL of the kiddies are old enough to really help and be careful enough to make it fun. Those first couple of years with Allie were rough but Aunt P.P.(as the kids call her) has always been a pretty good sport. We decorate and then eat.....Sunday was THE day....we gathered around and the fun began....

My sister Perry

Macie takes this job VERY seriously...
Allie started out being very serious too....

but it didn't last long...she found a blue, glittery, long, teardrop shaped ornament and decided to turn it into a microphone. Thankfully she did not break it.

Scott waiting patiently for the next ornament

Holley in the decorating spirit..

After decorating, we played Christmas Bingo while waiting for pizza...

The decorating crew....

The Fab Four at Aunt Perry's 11-30-08

The final product...another job well done...(Perry puts the topper on later...)

So there you have it. After eating a bunch of pizza, the kiddies got cute thank-you gifts from P.P. which have become another tradition. Each year she gives them advent calendars that have chocolate candy in them. The kiddies love these!!! They look forward to these every year. Every night after dinner they get to open that day and eat the chocolate for dessert. She also gave them little puzzle things and a holiday cup filled with candy. I am now caught up through Sunday. Tomorrow (today if it is already after midnight) is a typical Monday with school for everyone and gymnastics tomorrow afternoon. I'm not sure if there will be anything exciting enough to post...time will tell. I am scheduled to work Tues. , Wed., and Thurs. yup. 3 in a row....should be fun...NOT! I did not schedule myself that way. They needed to rearrange my original schedule for coverage issues and now I'll be working (3) 12 hr shifts in a row. UGH!! You probably won't hear from me until the end of the week. The Boerne Christmas parade is net weekend so tune in for pictures....Holley will be in it with the gymnastic team....Stay tuned...

Friday's Fun...(last Fri 11-29-08)

Now that you are caught up on Thanksgiving ....it's on to the rest of the holiday weekend....Friday was a fun and busy day. It is a tradition in my family to put up our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. The whole family pitched in. This was the first year that all of the kids were really able to help with the decorating. We unpacked about a kajillion boxes...and the decorating began...Allie found a santa hat in one of the first boxes we opened and a good time was had by all (until the fighting started over the hat...ugh!!!)

Macie in the Christmas spirit...

Scott "Ho-Ho-Ho"-ing pretending to be santa "...round little belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly..."
During lunch the skirmishes grew...Holley and Allie had to argue (of course) over who got to sit at what bar stool...I'm glad my camera was handy...

Meme and Poppy unpacking the Christmas tree...glad Poppy still does the heavy lifting, I'm NO help in that area...

Yes, we have an artificial tree....apparently I am (or was as a child) allergic to real ones so I've had an artificial one for as long as I can remember...LOVE THEM!!!

Then we had to untangle all of the ornament hooks...this took a while...

Then we decorated the tree and sang Christmas carols at the top of our lungs while listening to our favorite Christmas CD's.

The final product...pretty good job Browning's!!!!

At this point you are caught up through the end of Friday. I worked on Sat. and the kids did a bunch of playing with friends and with each other...Today (Sun. we had another fun time...more on that to come)...stay tuned....

Backtracking a bit...

Happy Thanksgiving all...a few days late I know....sorry about that!! Life has been busy for the Browning bunch. We spent Turkey Day at home eating a bunch of yummy food (thanks Meme..and yes I did help too!!). Once our tummies were full and I mean STUFFED...we sat around feeling sleepy and wishing we could take a long nap!! But sadly, a nap was not in the cards for us. Why? you ask??? Because we were on 'chicken duty'. Scot's dad signed him up for 4H club this year. He (his Dad) decided it would be fun to sign him (Scott) up to show chickens this year. These chicks arrived last week? or the week before (I can't remember). Anyway...Scott's dad decided it was a smart thing to do to travel for Thanksgiving this year...never mind the fact that he has these week old chicks to take care of.... sorry...won't go there...anyway, the responsibility somehow landed on MY shoulders to get Scott over there to look in on the chicks. His dad assured me that Scott could do everything by himself, all I had to do was give him a ride. Yea right....NOT!! I was informed that the shavings the chicks had in their pen must remain dry and the heat lamp had to be a certain temp...etc. I begrudgingly agreed to drive Scott over there and when we got there...I noticed the shavings were all wet. Scott did everything that he was supposed to do, change water and fill the food trays etc. So, when we left, I called his dad and told him about the wet shavings and wet newspaper the shavings were on. He informed me that when we went back the next day (Fri) we needed to change out the entire bedding and newspapers that the chicks were living on. So what was supposed to be just waiting while Scott did a couple of quick chores, became a HUGE undertaking on Friday afternoon. Scott could not move all of the chicks (50 of them ) into other boxes, slide the boards making the pen out, sweep up all of the shavings, peel wet newspaper off the floor of the chicken coop, replace everything and push the boards back and replace all 50 chicks quickly so they didn't get cold all by himself... All I've got to say is that his dad better plan better the next time (ha-like that will happen) because I have no intention of doing that again. It would be one thing if it were an activity that I had committed my son to doing or that I had any experience with....but I am a city girl...grew up a city girl....I've got ZERO experience with barnyard animals....they were kinda cute though....but oh so
S-T-I-N-K-Y-!!! Poop everywhere!!!

Here is a pic of the chicks...the red light is a heat lamp

Scott holding a chick...
Typical of Allie....not afraid one bit....(I was terrified of these tiny fuzzy critters)

Cute to look at, but smelly!!

Holley joining the fun...

The infamous chicks...

The funniest thing is that while I was growing up I loved 'Little House on the Prairie'. I used to wish that I had lived back in those days....not now!!! I would never make it as a pioneer woman!!! There probably aren't many people who would be terrified of these tiny things...but what can I say?...the kids thought it was hilarious that I was afraid...I have to say in my defense that I was not as scared this day as when the cows on the property were coming towards me last year when I dropped the kiddies off...I freaked...they wanted to get me I'm sure of it....